by Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

by Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

Artist John Currin, who lives in Brooklyn, painted the oil-on-canvas work in 1991, according to a listing at Christie's auction house in New York.

The New York Post reports that the portrait sold Wednesday night at auction for $1.9 million to anonymous buyer over the phone. Currin, who is known for satirical works of women in provocative positions, came under fire when he first painted it.

Critics blasted it for being sexist, misogynistic and vulgar. Others argued it was a statement about feminism and age, calling it ironic and entertaining.

Arthur, who died in 2009, did not sit for the art, says the Post.

But the painting is "historically significant, Christie's spokesman Koji Inoue tells the Post. "It's radical to sexualize someone people think of as asexual." He added, "The painting has a visual toughness to it - but it's also fun."

Meanwhile, don't try to find the artwork on Facebook. The site banned it for being too racy.